AP Government Chapter Two Key Terms

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

a nations basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten

Question 2

Declaration of Independence

Answer 2

the document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

Question 3

Natural Rights

Answer 3

Rights inherited in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. the concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among Americas founders

Question 4

Consent of the Governed

Answer 4

the idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people

Question 5

Limited Government

Answer 5

the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens

Question 6

Articles of the Confederation

Answer 6

the first constitution of the united states, adopted by congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. the articles established a national legislative, the continental congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatives

Question 7

Shays Rebellion

Answer 7

a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings

Question 8

US Constitution

Answer 8

the document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the US government and the tasks these institutions perform. it replaced the articles of the confederation

Question 9

Factions

Answer 9

interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that james Madison attacked in federalist paper number 10. todays parties or interest groups are what Madison had in mind when he warned of the instability in government caused by factions

Question 10

New Jersey Plan

Answer 10

the proposal at the constitutional convention that called for equal representation of ach state in congress regardless of the states population

Question 11

Virginia Plan

Answer 11

the proposal at the constitutional convention that called for representation of each state in congress in proportion to that states share of the us population

Question 12

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 12

the compromise reached at the constitutional convention that established two houses of congress: the house of representatives, in which representation is based on a states share of the us population, and the senate, in which each state has two representatives

Question 13

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Answer 13

a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody

Question 14

Separation of Powers

Answer 14

a feature of the constitution that requires each of the three branches of government- executive, judicial, and legislative- to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three institutions

Question 15

Checks and Balances

Answer 15

Features of the Constitution that limit governments power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions. these institutions continually constrain one another’s activities

Question 16

Federalists

Answer 16

supporters of the us constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption

Question 17

Anti-Federalists

Answer 17

opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption

Question 18

Federalist Papers

Answer 18

a collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” to defend the constitution in detail

Question 19

Bill of Rights

Answer 19

the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, drafted in response to some Anti-Federalist concerns. these amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press guarantee defendants rights

Question 20

Equal Rights Amendment

Answer 20

a Constitutional amendment passed by congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of sex.” the amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three fourths of the state legislatives

Question 21

Marbury V. Madison

Answer 21

the 1803 case in which chief justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the supreme court to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. the decision established the courts power of judicial review over acts of congress, in this case the judiciary act of 1789

Question 22

Judicial review

Answer 22

the power of the courts to determine whether acts of congress and, by implication, the executive are in accord with the US Constitution. Judicial review was established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury V. Madison